EU moves to secure medicine supply as drug shortages threaten Bloc stability

European Union lawmakers have come to an agreement to strengthen the bloc’s supply of essential medicines and reduce its heavy dependence on pharmaceutical imports from outside Europe.

The decision comes amid growing concern over repeated shortages of critical drugs, including antibiotics, painkillers and children’s fever medications, which have disrupted pharmacies and hospitals across member states in recent years.

The agreement, reached by EU negotiators on Tuesday, is designed to reinforce Europe’s pharmaceutical…